To Woo A Warrior (Southern Sanctuary) (8 page)

Drum turned those liquid dark eyes
on her for a moment, processing this new information. Then he shrugged those
massive shoulders. “Fair enough. V we have a job, your name is on the roster.”

Vaughn instantly looked torn,
staring down at Xander’s unconscious body with a distinct look of regret. “I
should probably make sure Xander is okay. Get Rafe to sub for me, he owes me.”

“I’ll go.” Hadleigh all but bounced
on her feet with enthusiasm. The idea of beheading something, anything, rather
than stay here and face the humiliating results of Declan’s little joke was
infinitely appealing.

Drum shrugged again. “Fine with me.”
He looked towards Vaughn. “What do you think?”

“Sure.” Vaughn tried not to sound
too surly.  Damn he’d wanted to be the first one to go on assignment with
Hadleigh. “Have fun.”

Drum’s dark eyes danced with
suppressed amusement at Vaughn’s predicament, knowing full well his friend was
seething with jealously right at this moment.

“Let’s get you fitted out and hit
the road.” Drum gestured with a large hand for Hadleigh to precede him from the
room. At the door he turned back to look at Vaughn. “Don’t worry V, I’ll keep
my hands well clear of her underwear.”

Chapter Nine

“That was great.”

Drum sitting across from Hadleigh in
the back of the company jet suppressed a laugh. He didn’t think he’d met anyone
who took such joy in
their
work as Hadleigh did.
Sitting there covered with blood splatters,
gore
and
dirt, she was damn near glowing. Vaughn was one lucky son of an asp.

“You’ve killed
Nims
before.” Drum stated the fact.

“Yes, but where I’m from we call
them Pox and I’ve only come across them travelling in pairs before, never a
nest like that. I didn’t know they were capable of getting as big as the
mother. I was so envious when you took her head off.”

Drum smiled broadly. He couldn’t
remember the last time he’d enjoyed the company of a woman so much. Hadleigh
had been more than easy to partner up with on this mission; deadly accurate
skills and fearless but always aware of his position and ready to back him up
if need be.   

Leaning forward she stared intently
at his upper arm. “You know you have some teeth in that bite right?”

Drum glanced down to study the
wound.  He couldn’t even recall being bitten. Clearing out nests was like
that
;
frenetic with the babies and young’uns
mindlessly attacking you whilst you did your best to find and take out the
deadlier larger parents first. Reaching up he ran fingers over the wound
feeling the lumps of little teeth burrowed deep in his flesh. Pulling his
favourite blade from his boot he contemplated the angle of extraction.

“That knife is way too big. 
Don’t get me wrong it’s gorgeous. What’s it made from?” Hadleigh eyed his knife
like most women he knew eyed a diamond necklace.

“Obsidian.”

“Nice. Here try this.” She passed
over hilt first a slim razor sharp dagger.

He had no idea where she’d had the
blade hidden but it was exactly the size he required to extract the teeth from
his flesh. Hadleigh was proving an intriguing mystery, seeming to have a sharp
edged weapon for every occasion. Drum briefly contemplated the idea of trying
to win this warrior woman for himself. But no, Vaughn had laid claim first.
Plus there was the way Hadleigh looked at him.  There was no heat in her
gaze when she met his eyes, not like when she watched Vaughn when his attention
was directed elsewhere. Flicking the last of the
Nim
teeth in to his empty coffee cup Drum wiped the borrowed dagger on his trousers
to clean it before passing it back.

“This Sanctuary of yours, there are
more like you?”

“Guardians? About fifty full time
another twenty or so in reserve.”

“Actually I meant beautiful women?”

For the first time in his presence
she looked distinctly uncomfortable, giving him a wary look, not as cold as the
one she’d given Nate when he’d been flirting with her but definitely on the
chilly side.

“Oh, well yes … I suppose. I do have
lots of female relatives.”

“
Mmmm
,
tell me more about this Southern Sanctuary of yours.”

*                  
*                     
*

Hadleigh paused for a moment in the
doorway of the Maat Production canteen. It was early; the sun had been up
barely half an hour.  She wasn’t the kind of person who needed much sleep
but she generally required more than the scant three hours shut eye she’d
managed. Unfortunately the timetable provided for her by Rafe had a team
breakfast scheduled for six am this morning. Not that she could have forgotten
thanks to the pager she’d been supplied that beeped a wakeup call followed by
five minute reminders until she’d been awake enough to respond that she was on
her way.  She’d showered when she’d gotten back to the apartment a few
hours before so all that was required was to get dressed, brush her teeth and
wash her face.

The canteen was pretty much empty,
except for the long trestle table over by the windows where Vaughn and his team
were gathered, breakfast trays already loaded in front of them. Keeping her
head down, avoiding making eye contact Hadleigh grabbed an empty tray making a
bee line
for the buffet line.

No doubt they all knew by now what
had happened with Xander Marr the previous day. What must they be thinking? Did
they think she spelled her own underwear? Should she tell them it was a
practical joke inflicted upon her by Declan? But then they might ask when
Declan had placed the spell and admitting to her epic man drought would just be
the cherry on the top of this whole humiliating chapter. Better to say nothing
and try not to attract attention to herself she decided taking a seat on the bench
next to Flynn, which had the added bonus of being as far away from Vaughn as
logistically possible.

Vaughn had been aware of Hadleigh
from the moment she’d paused in the canteen doorway. He’d read Drum’s glowing
report from last night’s mission but still some kind of building pressure
within his gut eased now that he had confirmed with his own two eyes that she
was safe and well. Maat love her, the woman was such a distraction, he was
barely aware of shovelling breakfast in his mouth until his fork hit metal. In
fact it might have been empty for quite some time from the way Drum was eyeing
him with silent amusement. Shaking himself he pulled his focus away from
Hadleigh’s gorgeous red hair to find Marcus staring at him intently. Quickly he
played back in his mind the last few minutes. Marcus had been enquiring about
Xander’s health.

“He’s fine, no concussion, just the
cut on his head and a couple of bruises.”

“We’re lucky he didn’t land on his
face.” Dash mused. “Otherwise it would be lawsuit city knowing X.”

Vaughn frowned for a moment, then
shrugged. “He doesn’t seem to recall exactly what happened, he thinks he over
exerted himself wrestling with Hadleigh and fainted hitting his head.”

“What did happen?” Marcus queried.

Out of the corner of his eye Vaughn
noted Hadleigh freeze for a millisecond before continuing to finish her eggs.
There was definitely something weird about the whole episode. From where he’d
been standing he’d witnessed Xander reach out to adjust Hadleigh’s tank and bra
straps and then within a blink of an eye the man had been flying backwards. Yet
he’d swear to Maat Hadleigh hadn’t physically interacted with Xander.

“Did you throw him across the room
Hadleigh?” Flynn asked a huge grin on his face at the thought.

Hadleigh turned her head studying
him for a moment before shaking her head in bemusement. “Something
like
that. You’re not upset that I hurt him?”

“Hurting him nah, killing him would
have been wrong.” Flynn noted.

“Would it though?” Dash quipped.

Flynn ignored his brother. “But a
clip on the head. It might be good for him.”

“It couldn’t hurt.” Marcus agreed.

“Yes but now he’s bound to harp on
about the whole thing ad
nauseum
.” Nate added.

“Any change in topic other than the
man’s love affair with the mirror will be well received.” Marcus shook his head
in exasperation. “The other day he asked me if his pores were too large.”

“Too large for what?” Dash asked
frowning.

Marcus shrugged. “No idea but I
pulled the old standard and he ran off muttering about booking in some time
with a beauty therapist.”

“What’s the old standard?” Hadleigh
smiled, beginning to relax and enjoy the banter.

Rafe directly across the table from
her provided the answer. “Whenever the good Professor asks us a grooming
question we stare at the area in question, act surprised, kind of worried and
then say something reassuring but in a really fake sincere way.”

“It usually sends him bolting for
the nearest mirror.” Marcus finished.

Their laughter was abruptly cut off
as Flynn howled with pain, raising his hand to stare in horror at the fork now
protruding from it.

“Oh Goddess.” Hadleigh muttered
curses under her breath as dread flooded her. What had she just done? What was
she still twelve?  “Oh Flynn, I’m so sorry. I have three brothers … not
that that’s much of an excuse but trust
me,
dinner
time at my place is like war. You protect what’s on your plate at all costs.”

Goddess shoot
her she was babbling.

Flynn yanked out the offending piece
of cutlery and grabbed his napkin, using it to staunch the flow of blood.
Hadleigh wanted to sink into the ground and disappear.  She wanted to
scream and preferably kill something. Everything had been going so well. They’d
gotten past the whole almost killing Xander with good humour and then she had
to go stab Flynn in the back of the hand just because he’d been trying to filch
a pancake from her plate.

Okay, so realistically what harm had
she done?  She’d offer to pay for the medical costs, pack her duffel and
head home to wrangle invisible sheep. No harm, no foul. Except then she
wouldn’t see Vaughn again. Goddess why did that thought send pain ripping
through her gut? Chancing a glance up the table she found all eyes directed her
way, their expressions
all identical
. Each of them was
shaking their head looking vaguely disgusted. Except now that she really looked
their focus wasn’t on her but on Flynn.

“Flynn.” Drum barked. 
His tone causing Hadleigh to freeze in her seat instead of making a
run for the door.
“Apologise now for disrespecting our guest.”

Wait, what? Apologise to her? But
she’d stabbed him. Turning she found a sheepish Flynn looking at her with
contrition in his green edged hazel eyes.

“Hadleigh, please accept my deepest,
sincerest apologies. My actions were thoughtless and your reaction was
understandable. Hopefully you will deem my injury punishment enough for my
crime.” He held up his napkin wrapped hand, blood staining some of the
material. “But if you do not deem that punishment fit for the crime I await
your judgement.”

A hush fell over the table, Hadleigh
wanted to fidget, she hated being the centre of attention and right that minute
she knew every man at the table had his focus on her, waiting for her reaction.
Buying some time she took a small sip of her orange juice, praying to the
Goddess above for dignity and grace. Two more things her brothers had
repeatedly stated she lacked. Replacing her glass she looked to Flynn.  “I
accept your apology Flynn if you would accept mine in return. I may have
overreacted in my rebuke when a simple no would have sufficed.”

“Not at all kind lady.” Flynn dipped
in his head in an old world manner. “You are a gentle breeze of justice.”

Hadleigh rolled her eyes. “Okay now
you’re laying it on a bit thick.”

Flynn grinned, the mischief back in
those hazel eyes of his. “Gentle breeze a bit too far?”

“Seriously.” Hadleigh laughed. 
Relieved the others at the table had taken their focus off her and were once
more concerned with finishing their breakfast. “You must apologise a lot huh,
you’re pretty good at it.”

Flynn waggled his eyebrows. “I’m
good at many, many things Red.”

Hadleigh suppressed a sigh letting
the nickname pass; at least it was kinder than the ones her brothers assigned
to her. “Here let me see your hand.”  She grabbed his big hand unwrapping
the napkin, using a clean edge to wipe away the smear of blood on the back of
his hand to find the four holes already scabbing over. “Wow, you guys heal
fast.”

“The bigger the wound the more time
it takes but this shouldn’t cause me any problems.” He flexed his fist open and
closed a few times. “Still hurts a little though, want to kiss it better?”

Hadleigh couldn’t help but laugh at
the faux hopeful look that Flynn shot her. “It takes a lot to shoot you down doesn’t
it?”

“I’m just waiting for the right
woman to come along and tame my bad boy ways.”

Hadleigh laughed again. Flynn was
flirting with her but it was done with no real intent that for the first time
in what felt like forever she actually felt comfortable engaging in banter with
a member of the opposite sex.

“You could be that woman Hadleigh.”
Flynn batted his long eyelashes at her.

Hadleigh shook her head in
bemusement of the male species. “I knocked you to the mat and now I’ve stabbed
you in the hand, surely that puts me out of contention?”

“If anything it puts you in the
lead.” Again he waggled his eyebrows. “Sort of like foreplay for those who like
to play rough.” Flynn leaned forward lowering his voice. “Do you like to play
rough Hadleigh?”

Any other man asking her that
question would have received another piece of cutlery through the hand but it
was Flynn. 
Funny, mischievous Flynn, who reminded her
way too much of Declan for her to take seriously.
It was novel for her
to feel comfortable enough to reciprocate in kind to his teasing. Freeing in
fact to punch Flynn hard in the upper arm, causing his entire upper body to
sway sideways under the impact. 
A look of surprised
pain and amusement crossing his face as he clutched at his now numb arm.